Wood "definitely happy" to start over

The shock of being cut loose by the Angels having passed, Brandon Wood told reporters in Pittsburgh this weekend that he was “definitely happy” to have moved on.

“You get to know an organization for so long that it's hard to leave because you're leaving your friends,” said Wood who was activated by the Pirates on Saturday but has yet to see any game action with his new team. “But from a baseball standpoint, I come to a good place. There is a much better opportunity for me here than there was in Anaheim.”

With the Angels, Wood said he felt he “had a black cloud over my head” when he didn't immediately live up to expectations.

“I would get 30 or 40 at-bats here or there and struggle and it was like, ‘Why isn't this kid hitting a home run very seven at-bats?'” he said. “I always had that around my head.”

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he was well aware of Wood's saga when his team claimed the former top prospect on waivers last week.

“I'm pretty well-versed in Brandon Wood,” Hurdle said. “I've had a number of friends who have worked in the Angels' organization. In interleague play with the Rockies, it seemed like we saw the American League West quite often. I was aware of his signing, him (coming up) through their system.

“I know things haven't really (gone) the way he hoped. He's a solid defender. He can play three positions. His bat is the question.”

The Pirates have a top prospect of their own playing at third base, Pedro Alvarez (the second overall pick in the 2008 draft). But Hurdle said he anticipates Wood “will play regularly” somewhere for the Pirates, even mentioning second base as a possibility. Wood has played first, third and shortstop in the past.

“The opportunity with the Angels probably wasn't as long as he liked or they would have liked to have given him,” Hurdle said. “We're going to give him time at third base, time at shortstop, time at first base, probably put the little glove on him and have him play second base. We'll give him time in the batter's box and see if we can help him make a difference, reignite the swing.”

Hurdle said the Pirates are hopeful a change of scenery will be the first thing that sparks a rebirth in Wood – “Sometimes something as simple as that can help” – and he told Wood “whatever baggage you are carrying, let it go, because you have a whole new chalkboard to write on here.”

GM Neal Huntington said the Pirates were willing to take a chance on Wood because of his “high pedigree as a prospect.”

“We felt it was a good addition, a good chance to take for the organization,” Huntington told reporters. “We still see the impact, the power. We'll see what we can do to help him.”

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